The Fiat Grande Panda is up to a record 4th place at home in January.

It’s a solid start of the year for the Italian new car market, with sales up 6.2% to 141.980 units. However private sales drop -3.8% to 81,585 and 56.9% share vs. 63% a year ago. Artificial sales channels pull the market up: self registrations soar 29.2% to 14,525 and short term rentals surge 188% to 12,460 and 8.7% share vs. 3.2% in January 2025. Meanwhile long term leases are up 3.2% to 27,526 and 19.2% share vs. 19.8% last year. Petrol is down -25.4%, diesel down -16.6% and LPG down -32.8%. HEVs gain 23.7% to 74,742 including 20,604 full hybrids (+32.8%) and 54,138 mild hybrids (+20.6%). PHEVs shoot up 152% to 12,502 and 8.7% share vs. 3.7% and BEVs advance 40.6% to 9,446 and 6.6% share vs. 5% a year ago.

In the brands charts, Fiat (+20.5%) finally posts a strong month at 13.5% share vs. 8.6% in December, its highest level at home since January 2023 (14%). Toyota (+0.3%) and Volkswagen (+3%) camp on their FY25 positions to round out the podium. Peugeot (-2%) is down year-on-year but up 8 spots on December to #4 ahead of Audi (+2.6%) at #5, its highest ranking since May 2024. Like in France and Spain, Dacia (-40.8%) is hit hard at #6. Below, Leapmotor (+594.4%), Omoda+Jaecoo (+357.1%), BYD (+329.6%), Cupra (+51.8%), Mini (+40.7%), Mercedes (+30.2%) and Opel (+11.3%) stand out.

Model-wise, the Fiat Panda (-0.2%) is stable year-on-year and accounts for 9.4% of its home market vs. just 5.8% in December and 6.7% over the Full Year 2025. The Jeep Avenger (+9.6%) is back up to a record 2nd place, also hit in April, May and September 2025. The Citroen C3 (-23%) falls heavily year-on-year but is up seven spots on last month to #3. Last year I highlighted the fact the Fiat Grande Panda had disappointed, finishing the year at a paltry #37. This month proves me wrong: the model is up 16 ranks on December to land at a record 4th position, beating its previous best of #8 hit last September. The Grande Panda sells at 95% in its HEV variant. The next few months will tell whether this was just a fluke or the start of a long term trend and a much needed 2nd success for the brand at home. Meanwhile the Toyota Aygo X (+72.3%) is up spectacularly to #5, simply the nameplate’s first incursion inside Italy’s Top 5.

Previous post: Italy Full Year 2025: Fiat Panda #1 for 14th straight year, Grande Panda disappoints

One year ago: Italy January 2025: Fiat back to #1, Dacia breaks share record

Full January 2026 Top 55 brands and Top 50 models below.

Italy January 2026 – brands:

PosBrandJan-26%/25Dec1Fiat19,16213.5%+ 20.5%12Toyota10,1267.1%+ 0.3%23Volkswagen8,7706.2%+ 3.0%34Peugeot7,0985.0%– 2.0%125Audi7,0184.9%+ 2.6%66Dacia6,7914.8%– 40.8%87Renault6,4704.6%+ 5.8%58BMW6,3924.5%+ 0.4%49Jeep5,9714.2%+ 1.3%1110Citroen5,6954.0%+ 2.8%1311Mercedes5,5053.9%+ 30.2%712Ford4,9013.5%– 5.9%1613MG4,2403.0%+ 2.6%1014Opel3,7012.6%+ 11.3%2315Kia3,6772.6%– 7.1%1516Hyundai3,5832.5%– 4.7%1417BYD3,5532.5%+ 329.6%918Nissan3,4082.4%+ 8.6%2519Skoda3,2802.3%+ 8.4%1720Omoda+Jaecoo2,4961.8%+ 357.1%2121Suzuki2,2041.6%– 19.6%2222Alfa Romeo2,0821.5%– 8.5%2623Cupra1,7121.2%+ 51.8%2024Mini1,3270.9%+ 40.7%2425Volvo1,2790.9%+ 16.0%2826Mazda1,1980.8%+ 24.7%2927Leapmotor1,1180.8%+ 594.4%1928Lancia1,0270.7%+ 15.4%3529Honda1,0060.7%+ 52.0%3230DR Motor8320.6%– 38.8%2731Tesla7130.5%+ 74.8%1832EVO6750.5%+ 2.7%3333Land Rover6270.4%– 2.8%3434Lexus5700.4%+ 9.2%3635Seat4440.3%– 35.4%3136EMC3990.3%+ 143.3%3737Porsche3950.3%– 33.3%3038DS3750.3%+ 13.3%3939Geely2820.2%new –40Tiger2460.2%new –41DFSK2220.2%+ 149.4%4342Sportequipe1970.1%+ 84.1%4143Subaru1820.1%+ 64.0%4044Ich-X1610.1%+ 1912.5%n/a45KGM1430.1%+ 361.3% –46Lynk & Co1110.1%+ 82.0%4247Ferrari880.1%+ 8.6%4648Maserati660.0%– 57.1%4449Polestar660.0%+ 153.8%4550Lamborghini660.0%+ 11.9%4851Alpine330.0%+ 230.0%n/a52Smart200.0%– 79.4%4753Aston Martin140.0%– 17.6%5054Lotus120.0%– 55.6%4955Mahindra10.0%– 96.2% –56Mitsubishi00.0%– 100.0%38 –Others2500.2%+ 25.6% –

Italy January 2026 – models:

PosModelJan-26%/24Dec1Fiat Panda13,3089.4%– 0.2%12Jeep Avenger5,1333.6%+ 9.6%43Citroen C33,5162.5%– 23.0%104Fiat Grande Panda3,2992.3%+ 14243.5%205Toyota Aygo X3,0292.1%+ 72.3%66Dacia Sandero2,9372.1%– 47.3%27Renault Clio2,6511.9%+ 22.1%78Toyota Yaris2,4991.8%– 14.9%149Peugeot 2082,4621.7%– 33.9%2110VW T-Roc2,4401.7%+ 40.8%511Peugeot 30082,3781.7%+ 124.8%3212Dacia Duster2,3371.6%– 46.4%4013MG ZS2,2391.6%– 8.2%1314Toyota Yaris Cross2,2281.6%– 13.4%315Nissan Qashqai2,1601.5%+ 61.3%4416Opel Corsa2,1371.5%– 8.7%2317Audi Q32,0911.5%+ 29.9%4218BMW X12,0891.5%+ 26.4%1219Ford Puma2,0691.5%– 6.0%1820Renault Captur2,0681.5%– 19.7%921VW Tiguan1,9711.4%+ 8.7%1122Toyota C-HR1,9701.4%+ 12.8%1623BYD Seal U1,8191.3%+ 240.6%1724VW T-Cross1,6161.1%– 28.7%1925Alfa Romeo Junior1,5431.1%+ 10.1%4626Kia Sportage1,5281.1%– 0.6%2227MG 31,3791.0%+ 19.2%3528Kia Picanto1,3651.0%– 7.2%2529Peugeot 20081,3480.9%– 23.8%n/a30Hyundai Tucson1,3050.9%+ 3.7%2931Mercedes GLA1,2750.9%+ 12.4%2732Omoda 51,2580.9%new2633Audi A31,1820.8%– 13.8%3134BMW X31,1670.8%+ 27.0%n/a35Fiat 6001,1070.8%– 32.9%3336Ford Tourneo Courier1,0900.8%+ 32.6%n/a37Nissan Juke1,0730.8%– 24.3%5038Fiat 5001,0590.7%+ 328.7%n/a39Citroen C3 Aircross1,0300.7%n/an/a40Lancia Ypsilon1,0270.7%+ 15.4%n/a41Suzuki Swift9510.7%+ 36.4%4742Leapmotor T039490.7%+ 520.3%843Audi A19190.6%– 4.8%n/a44Skoda Kamiq8750.6%– 14.4%n/a45Suzuki Vitara8690.6%– 11.8%3946Mercedes A Class8660.6%+ 119.8%n/a47BYD Dolphin Surf8560.6%new2448VW Golf8560.6%– 24.9%2849Ford Kuga8380.6%– 9.8%n/a50Audi Q58320.6%+ 5.3%48

Source: UNRAE